Simulation of hydrologic processes for surface mined lands

Natural factors limit the extent to which land disturbed by man's activities such as the strip mining of coal may be returned to productivity. In the western United States, the availability of water is frequently the most important of these factors. To assist decision makers in land restoration efforts, a procedure is developed by which precipitation and the distribution of precipitation water on reclaimed areas may be forecast. With this information, reclamation decisions can be made with increased confidence. The initial phase of the procedure is the development of a sequence-based stochastic precipitation model which provides as output simulated sequences of annual precipitation events. Probability distributions for storm parameters such as precipitation per event, event duration, distribution of events in time, etc. are obtained from analysis of historic climatological data for the study area. From these distributions simulated series of annual events possessing statistical characteristics of the actual event sequences are generated. Statistical analysis shows no significant differences between parameters of the actual events and those generated by the model. The stochastic precipitation model is used to drive a deterministic model simulating other hydrologic processes. In the second model, a finite difference solution records changes in water content within the soil profile. Root extraction, evaporation, infiltration and percolation are also simulated based upon changing hydraulic head at selected depth intervals. The kinematic wave approximation and the continuity of mass equation are used to route overland flow from the watershed. The model accurately predicts the distribution of water resulting from annual series of precipitation and potential evapotranspiration event sequences.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Renewable Natural Resources

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Arizona.

Year dc:date.issued

1976

Author dc:creator

• Fischer, John N.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Fogel, Martin M.
• Warrick, Arthur W.
• Matlock, W. Gerald
• Rasmussen, William O.

• Hydrology.
• Strip mining -- Environmental aspects.
• Hydrology -- Mathematical models.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10150/191029

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/191029